Necktie presser



w. A. S ELTS. NECKTIE PRESSER.

APPLICATIOI FILED JULY 25,192!- Patented Oct. 10, 1922,

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l/ V I ENTOR 2/204? A TTORFJE V pressing action and to be self'retained in a Patented Get. 19, 1922.

L lZtLBB ll KW TIT.

I ECKTIE Application filed July 25,.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, lVILLIAM A. SELTs, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improve'ements in Necktie Pressers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus dealing'with wearing apparel, and especiallyto a simple and easily manipulated device for pressing neckties or other articles of dress or wearing apparel.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide a neat appearing device whereby a man may readily keep his neckties or the like in a neatly pressed condition.

Another object of the invention is to provide a necktie presser comprising two main parts having relative co-operation, one as a base and the other as a plunger or tongue, said two parts being so shaped and related to each other as to produce the desired pressing position because of their peculiar s ape.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists in the arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed, and while the invention is not restricted to the exact details of construction disclosed or suggested here-' in, still for the purpose of illustrating practical embodiment thereof reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in

' which like reference characters designate thesame parts in the several views, and in j which- Figure l is a perspective view indicating the device in partially assembled position with a necktie in place ready to be pressed] on further manipulation of the plunger.

Fig. 2 is a transversesectio'nal detail on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 indicating especially the normal relative forms of the plunger and the base.

F ig. 3 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 2 indicat ing the set position of the parts, with the tie held undercoi'n'presslon.

Fig. 4 is a lo'fgiti'idinal section with theparts interlocked. y 1 7 Referring now more particularly to the drawings 1 show my improved presser as comprising a relatively rigid base member 10, made of any suitable material and of the curvature and the flanges 11 are freely 7 that it may be readily slipped longitudinalr'nnssna.

1921. Serial No. 487,267.

any desired external form, but including preferably a transversely concave inner surface which is longitudinally substantially straight. This inner surface of the base might be described as being a segment of a CII'CHlaP COIlG. This member may be made of relatively rigid sheet material suitably coated or plated to render it neat in appear ance and of a nature calculated not to mar or in ureeither the neckties or other property that may come in contact therewith. The side edges are turned upward and inward toward each other forming flanges 11, the extreme edges of which lie in spaced relation to the concave inner surface or bottom of the base. These edge portions or flanges of the base with respect to each other are not parallel lengthwise of the base but merge toward each other at the smaller end. Each flange may be preferably substantially of uniform width from one end of the base to the other. The spaces at both ends'of the base between open and unobstructed. Projecting downward, however from the ends are stiffening members 12 and 13, which when the device is made of sheet metal or its equivalent may be formedby simply bending downward narrow portions of the base.

The other main member of the pr'esser is a tongue or plunger 14: which in a general way conforms to the shape of the base. That-is to say the plan view of the plunger is of tapered form having" two parallel or rounded ends and two straight side edges which converge toward each other. The plunger however is relatively flexible and of a normal form in cross section curving on a larger radius than the curvature of the inside of the base. See Fig. 2. Because of the form of the 1'lunger,it is subject to relatively easy bending between its side edges. The length of the plunger is greater than that of the base so that when the device is inoperation both ends of the plunger project materizi-lly beyond the ends of the base.- The width o'fthe plunger is such ly' within the base, the side edges of the plunger going easily within the spaces bet eenthe flanges 11 and the curved beam of the base This-act of assemblage may be performed by slipping gm of the side edges of the plunger laterally between the corresponding flange of the base and dropping the opposite side edge simply downward toward the base past the other base flange, while the plunger occupies a position in which about one fourth of the plunger is projected beyond the larger end of the base. Or the preferred manner of assemblage is to slip the plunger endwise into place, the smaller end of the plunger being introduced at the larger end of the base and thus bring both side edges of the plunger at the same time into place beneath the flanges 11. When the parts are thus assembled without using any force the smaller end of the plunger will come just about flush with the smaller end of the base, and the form in cross section of these parts at such time will be as indicated in Fig. 2 in which there is indicated a space or clearance 15. At this time the larger end of the plunger projects an inch or so beyond the larger end of the base.

The manner of use of this device as a necktie presser may be described as follows. It being borne in mind that the wrinkled portion of a necktie is ordinarily but six or seven inches in length, the operator inoistens the face of the wrinkled portion slightly by any convenient means such as a damp cloth, and then smooths out the face of the tie with his fingers and places the tie face downward within the base between the flanges 11 thereof and with the ends of the tie flowing loosely beyond the ends of the base. He then introduces the plunger as above described, the tie occupying the spaceor a portion of the space 15 until pressure is brought upon the plunger. To apply pressure the operator grasps the entire device in both hands with 40 his fingers brought in opposite directions across the bottom of the base and with his thumbs in a position to bear downward along the longitudinal center of the plunger on top. He now stands the device perpendicularly upon any firm support, such as his dresser top, wall, chair back, or the like, and while in such position he applies direct inward pressure by his thumbs at the plunger causing it to approach with its center the corresponding portion of the base bringing the necktie under compression, and-at the same time also by the grip he holds with his fingers against the base he forces the same toward the stationary support causing the.

larger end of the plunger to be driven forward into the base, thereby increasing the compressioninitiated by his thumbs on the plunger. The smaller end of the plunger will thus be projected beyond the base as shown in Fig. a. The parts will be self-retained in this position by the frictional contact between them. In my experience I have noted that twenty minutes or so is long enough to press a necktie, but ordinarily it may be left in the press over night if so desired. To remove the tie.fro1n the device the operator grasps again the base and brings the smaller end of the plunger into contact with some rigid support to start the plunger from pressing position. He may use his thumbs again in this connection if necessary to relieve the pressure on the edges of the plunger. The action of the device is peculiar in that the amount of pressure that may be obtained by the combined forces 6X- erted directly by the thumbs and indirectly by forcing the plunger endwise'as a wedge, is enormous.

The concave inner surface of the base is preferably lined with a piece of material 16 such as felt or fabric. The purpose of this lining is to make a more suitable pad or bed for the front face of the tie applied thereagainst. The tie is easier placed in smoothing it out when brought in contact with the surface such as is afforded by the fabric. Moreover the fabric protects the tie from any possible spotting or the like which might result from the moistening thereof and being left a long time, as over night, in locked position. This sheet of fabric or lining may be secured in place by any suitable means, as a film of cement, and so become a permanent part of the base. When not in use the two parts of the device are simply slipped together and occupy comparatively little room and may be left lying on the dresser or easily carriedin ones traveling bag or the like.

I claim:

1. The above described necktie presser comprising a base transversely concave to receive the article to be pressed and a plunger co-operating with the base and shaped to cause direct compression of the article against the base, the base and plunger having normally different cross sectional forms but caused by the plunger to assume a substantially similar form.

2. In a necktie presser, the combination of a base having a transverse concavity and side flanges extending toward each other and having spaced overlapping relation to the concave portion of the base, and a plunger co-operating with the base and holding in place to press a tie against said concave surface by interlocking co-operation with said flanges.

3. In a necktie presser, the combination of a base having a concavitysubstantially in the form of the surface of a segment of a frustum of a cone, the sides of the base having holding members projecting over said concavity, while the ends of the base are 5. A device as set forth in claim 8 in which the base is relatively stifi' While the plunger is relatively flexible.

6. A device as set forth in claim 3 in which the normal transverse curvature of the plunger is on a larger radius than that of the base. 4

' 7. In a necktie presser, the combination 7 of a base having side edges converging toward each other at one end and including flanges overlapping the side portions of the base and extendingtoward each other, and a plunger of the same general contour as the base and having side edges parallel respectively to the side portions of the base to interlock beneath said flanges.

8. A device as set forth in claim 7 in which the plunger is sufiiciently longer than the base to project beyond both ends thereof When in interlocking pressing position.

9. A device as set forth in claim 7 in which the tie receiving surface of the base is faced with a fabric lining.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

WILLIAM A. SELTS. 

